Two-phase cooling circuit
View Patent ↗The disclosure relates to a two-phase cooling circuit. The cooling circuit can include an evaporator and a condenser. The evaporator and condenser can be connected by a feeder line and a first return line. A phase separator is arranged at an inlet side of the condenser. The phase separator can be connected with the evaporator by a second return line.
1. Two-phase cooling circuit comprising:
an evaporator; and
a condenser connected with the evaporator by a feeder line and by a first return line, the feeder line fluidly connecting an upper end of said evaporator with an inlet side of the condenser, and the first return line fluidly connecting a lower end of the condenser with a lower end of the evaporator,
wherein the cooling circuit is a closed loop cooling circuit when in operation, and wherein the evaporator allows at least partially for convection boiling,
and wherein said evaporator is configured for thermal connection to a heat emitting device, and wherein the lower end of the condenser is arranged at least at a first height level where the upper end of said evaporator is located, and wherein a phase separation means is arranged in the feeder line at an inlet side of said condenser, wherein said phase separation means is fluidly connected to the evaporator by a second return line.
2. Two-phase cooling circuit according to claim 1 , wherein
the cooling circuit is gravitation driven when in operation.
3. Two-phase cooling circuit according to claim 1 , wherein
the cooling circuit is pumpless.
4. Two-phase cooling circuit according to claim 1 , wherein
the phase separation means is located at least at a second height level where the inlet of the condenser is located.
5. Two-phase cooling circuit according to claim 1 , wherein
said second return line short circuits said feeder line and said first return line.
6. Two-phase cooling circuit according to claim 1 , wherein
the phase separation means is located in said feeder line thereby dividing the feeder line into a first part connecting said evaporator with said phase separation means and a second part connecting said phase separation means with said condenser whereby said first part is longer than said second part.
7. Two-phase cooling circuit according to claim 1 , wherein
the phase separation means is arranged directly at an inlet port of said condenser and wherein said second return line extends essentially between the lower end of the evaporator and the inlet of the condenser.
8. Two phase cooling circuit according to claim 1 , wherein
said phase separation means is at least partially integrated in a manifold that comprises the inlet port of said condenser.
9. Two phase cooling circuit according to claim 1 , wherein
said phase separation means is configured to reduce flow resistance.
10. Two phase cooling circuit according to claim 1 , wherein
said phase separation means comprises at least one flow deflection means that is arranged such that a vaporized working fluid is deflected when in operation.
11. Two phase cooling circuit according to claim 10 , wherein
the at least one flow deflection means is arranged such that a vaporized working fluid is deflected in a direction extending transversely to a flow direction in the feeder line proximate to the phase separation means, and in a direction of the lower end of the condenser.
12. Two phase cooling circuit according to claim 1 , wherein
said phase separation means is a capillary phase separator.
13. Two-phase cooling circuit according to claim 3 , wherein
the phase separation means is located at least at a second height level where the inlet of the condenser is located.
14. Two-phase cooling circuit according to claim 13 , wherein
said second return line short circuits said feeder line and said first return line.
15. Two-phase cooling circuit according to claim 4 , wherein
the phase separation means is located in said feeder line thereby dividing the feeder line into a first part connecting said evaporator with said phase separation means and a second part connecting said phase separation means with said condenser whereby said first part is longer than said second part.
16. Two-phase cooling circuit according to claim 15 , wherein
the phase separation means is arranged directly at an inlet port of said condenser and wherein said second return line extends essentially between the lower end of the evaporator and the inlet of the condenser.
17. Two phase cooling circuit according to claim 16 , wherein
said phase separation means is at least partially integrated in a manifold that comprises the inlet port of said condenser.
18. Two phase cooling circuit according to claim 4 , wherein
said phase separation means comprises at least one flow deflection means that is arranged such that a vaporized working fluid is deflected when in operation, said phase separation means being a capillary phase separator.
19. Power module comprising at least one heat emitting device that is thermally connected to an evaporator of at least one cooling circuit configured according to claim 1 .
20. Power module according to claim 19 , wherein the at least one heat emitting device comprises at least one of a power electronic device and a power electronic device.